title: Differences in self-reported and behavioral measures of impulsivity in recreational and dependent cocaine users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dependent cocaine users consistently display increased trait impulsivity on self-report questionnaires and less consistently exhibit elevated motor impulsivity in some behavioral tasks. However, trait and behavioral impulsivity measures have rarely been investigated in recreational users. Therefore, we examined self-reported trait and motor impulsivities in recreational and dependent cocaine users to clarify the role of impulse control in cocaine addiction and non-dependent cocaine use.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated relatively pure recreational (n=68) and dependent (n=30) cocaine users, as well as psychostimulant-naïve controls (n=68), with self-report questionnaires (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11; Temperament and Character Inventory) and behavioral tasks (Rapid Visual Information Processing Task; Stop-Signal Task).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, recreational and dependent cocaine users displayed higher trait impulsivity and novelty seeking scores on self-report questionnaires. Trait impulsivity scores were strongly associated with an increased number of symptoms of depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and correlated significantly with long-term cocaine intake parameters. By contrast, none of the behavioral motor impulsivity measures showed significant group effects or correlated with cocaine use parameters. The correlations among the self-report measures were high, but self-reports were scarcely correlated with behavioral task measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that relatively pure cocaine users already display increased trait impulsivity at a recreational level of use. However, the results do not indicate any cocaine-related elevation of behavioral impulsivity in terms of motor or response inhibition. In summary, our data imply that elevated trait impulsivity is not a specific feature of dependent cocaine use.
authors.affiliation: Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: matthias.vonmoos@bli.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vonmoos
authors.forename: Lea M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hulka
authors.forename: Katrin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Preller
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Markus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Boris B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Quednow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine
keywords: ADHD; Addiction; Barratt Impulsivity Scale; Cocaine; Impulse control; Impulsivity; Recreational use; Stimulants